Becoming a League Speaker

The League needs more speakers: members who can give talks at computer companies, universities, rotary clubs, or anywhere else that people will listen.  Recently the CPSR chapter in San Diego asked for an LPF speaker, but we could find only two possibilities in Southern California, and only one of them experienced.

If you would like to become a speaker, the first step is to read the position papers carefully, as well as ``Lotus Disinformation---Forewarned is Forearmed'' for information on certain claims standardly made by the other side.  You can also read the many articles in Communications of the ACM this year.  We can send you copies of some other material if you want.

Then start discussing the issues with other people one at a time; learn the questions people will ask if they are not sure of their positions, and the usual ideological statements of business conservatives.

Then offer to give a talk on the subject where you work, to ten or twenty people who already know you.  This may be less frightening than speaking before strangers.

After this, start speaking to whoever wants to listen.

Whenever you give a talk on the subject, bring enough copies of the League literature to give out to the entire audience.  Give out copies of both position papers, as well as membership forms.

The position papers seem to convince most people who have no strong commitment to the opposing view, so if you can just convince the audience to take the time to read them, you have probably done a good job.